Float means for flush tanks



June 11, 1968 o. A. CAPRA FLOAT MEANS FOR FLUSH TANKS Filed Oct. 14, 1965 1 I I I 1 1 1 I I I l l 1 3 IIIMQIJMM.

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United States Patent 3,387,308 FLOAT MEANS FOR FLUSH TANKS Ottavio A. Capra, 152-14 84th Drive, Jamaica, N.Y. 11432 Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,837 11 Claims. (Cl. 4-18) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A buoyant member for positioning beneath the ball float of a flush tank, with surface formations on the buoyant member to mate with the surface of the ball float, and a securing band formed to interengage with the buoyant member and the ball float to secure the buoyant member in place beneath the ball float.

The present acute water shortage in the northeastern part and in other parts of the United States has focused national attention upon the necessity of conserving the water resources of the area. Efforts are being made to educate the public and to conserve water as much as possible, and not to waste 'any. Other efforts are being made to tighten up on the water systems and prevent leakage which has heretofore gone unnoticed, even though of substantial extent. Additionally, water users in areas not now equipped with meters are being threatened with the installation of meters to bring the use of water more in relation to the cost of it than is the case in those areas where water is unmetered. Little has been said or done, however, by Way of making specific provision for the householder, or other water user, to actually save a very considerable quantity of water Without having to take any specific action and without interfering with his normal practices. The invention is concerned with making such provision.

The normal practice in lavatory flush tanks controlled by the common ball float which shut-s off the water within the storage tank when it has reached the appropriate level is to set that appropriate level at close to, or just below the open upper end of the overflow pipe. Thus, assuming that most, if not all, of the water is flushed out of the tank with each flushing, it is common practice for close to six gallons of water to be used for each flushing. It is very rare that such a large volume of water is really needed, and certainly if that volume is reduced by one gallon an ample margin of safety is left for adequate flushing except under the most extreme circumstances.

If one sits down to estimate how much water vapor per day can be saved by reducing the quantity of water used for flushing by one gallon for each flush, and then multiplies this by the number of people there are within the drought stricken area of New York and New Jersey alone, also times the number of flushings per day per person, the figure of 100,000,000 gallons a day saved is conservative.

In order to induce the householder and other users of lavatory flushing devices to help themselves by making such a saving of water, it is necessary to supply them with economical, easily applicable devices which call for no skill in application and whose application and utilization can be illustrated to the purchaser by simple sketches. The invention is concerned with such an adjunct to the almost universally used common flushing tank and ball float member for lavatories. All the purchaser has to do is to take the two parts of the invention device, a supplementary float member and an attaching band therefore, and just secure that float member to the underside of the existing ball float by means of the band. The householder has no need to know any- 'ice thing about the operation of the flushing system and he has no need to try adjusting or bending any of the parts of the system. All he has to do is apply the additional float and clamp it in place by the clamping band provided and he has saved himself a gallon of water for each flushing of each lavatory. Of course, the reference to a saving of a gallon of water for each flushing is again a quantity for illustrative purposes. In manufacturing the auxiliary float of the invention it can readily be made in such a size and of material with such buoyancy that for the flush tank commonly used throughout the country a saving of approximately one gallon of water will be effected. Also, as an approximation, this would be a saving of one-sixth of the capacity of the flush tank, or approximately so, since the tank commonly employed contains and discharges approximately six gallons of water for each flush.

Besides effecting a saving of water as such, the device of the invention, when used in those areas where water coming into the house or building is metered, can save considerable money for the householder, or other user, on his water bill as time goes on. In fact, the auxiliary float system of the invention can be produced and sold at such a low price that it will not be long before the saving on the water bill has far exceeded the cost of the device. I

Besides being operable for effecting a saving in flushing systems which are still working properly, the device of the invention can also be utilized to restore a flushing system to full eificiency and to effect a water saving as well in those instances where the ball float has ceased to operate properly. Those are the situations where the ball float, through corrosion or porosity, or the build-up of deposits on it, has no longer the capability of floating high enough to shut off the inlet valve. In these instances not only is too much water used for flushing, but, since the inlet valve is not fully closed at all, water continues to flow over the end of and down through the overflow pipe. In such an instance the additional float of the invention not only effects the saving of water, but also obviates the necessity of replacing the ball float. Instead the additional float member becomes the actual float and the ball float is seated on top of it, being positioned well above the water level at the time the inlet valve is shut off.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of the invention to effect a substantial saving of the water used in flush tanks.

Another object is to effect that saving without having to do any adjusting of the existing flush tank mechanisms.

Still another object is to effect that saving by the provision of simple, economic, easily applicable means to the ball float of flush tanks.

A further object is to provide means of such a nature that one without any previous ski-ll whatsoever in the manipulation of flush tank elements can apply the additional float of the invention by merely observing a sketch of the invention assembly.

A further object is to provide such additional float and securing member therefore which are capable of being produced with the utmost economy, have unlimited life and retain their eifective characteristics throughout the whole of that life.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention Wlll in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing proceeds.

In that drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a flush tank with the operating elements thereof shown in elevation and with the ball float shown as equipped with the water saving implements of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clamping band per se used for clamping the additional float to the ball float'; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a typical block of suitable floatation material forming the additional member of the invention.

Before proceeding with the detailed description of the invention, it is to be noted that the structure of the particular auxiliary elements shown and the combination of the same with the particular ball float shown are merely set forth as being illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that such illustration is not to be considered in a limiting sense.

A flush tank of common type, to which the device of the invention is readily applicable, is seen in FIG. 1 as having a bottom 1 with an upstanding side wall 2 therearound. A water inlet pipe 3 extends through the bottom 1 at the position 4 with suitable fittings 5 and 6 for securement against the exterior surface 7 and the interior surface 8 of the bottom 1 to prevent leakage as is well known in the art. The inlet pipe continues upwardly above the fitting 6 in the portion 9, which terminates in the inlet valve 10 secured to its upper end. Such inlet valve, as is well known, has an actuating plunger 11 which is actuated by the link 12 of the float system having a pivoted arm 13 pivoted to a stationary bracket 14 extending up from the valve housing. The arm 13 is linked to the arm 12 by means of the linkage member 15 through pivotal connections at the ends of the member 15. The arm 13 is actuated by the rod 16 which has the ball float 17 suitably secured to its outer end as seen at 18. These ball floats, commonly spherical or in the form of an elongated member approximating a sphere, are commonly formed out of two copper members, substantially hemispheres, which are flanged outwardly together around their open mouths and are joined together by the joining or seaming of those flanges. This produces an outwardly extending rib 19, extending all the way around the float.

Returning now to the rest of the conventional apparatus found in a flush tank, it will be seen that a fitting, generally indicated at 20, seated Within the tank has a nipple 22 secured in leak-proof relationship in the opening 21 extending through the bottom wall 1 of the tank. This fitting, or nipple, 22, is flanged at 23 to overlie the inner surface 8 of the tank bottom and is clamped in place against that bottom by some suitable means such as the clamping nut 24 secured to the portion of the nipple which extends through the opening 21. An adapter element including a nut 25 secures an outlet pipe 26 to the outer end of the nipple 22.

The upper end of the nipple 22 for-ms in effect a valve seat 27 against which the flush valve member 28 seats when in closed position.

An overflow pipe 29 secured to the fitting 20 at a position offset from the nipple 22 communicates with a passage within that fitting so that any overflow of water within the tank above the top end 41 of the pipe 29 can pass down through the pipe 29 and through the passageway in the portion 30 of the fitting 20 into the interior of the nipple 22 at a position 31 below the flush valve 28. Thus any overflow can by-pass the flush valve and flow down through the outlet.

The overflow pipe 29 also serves to carry a bracket 32 having an arm 33 extending out therefrom to provide the sliding bearing 34 for the actuating rod 35 of the flush valve 28. This actuating rod is connected at its top to the usual flushing lever 36 and at its bottom is screwed into a fitting 37 provided in the upper part of the flush valve member 28.

Assuming then that the filling and flushing apparatus for the flush tank are of conventional construction, it is common practice to set the ball float 17 and the inlet valve linkage in such a Way that when the water level reaches a line, such as illustrated in dot-dash form at 40, the incoming water will be shut off. When this shut-01f takes place, the level 40 will be slightly below the open upper end 41 of the overflow pipe 29. Hence, so long as the system is operating properly, no water will be wasted by going out through the overflow pipe.

Should the ball float 17 for any reason become ineffective to shut ofl? the inlet valve 10 when the water has reached the desired level 40, that water level would rise until it reached the upper end 41 of the overflow pipe and any additional water coming in through the downwardly extending pipe 42 of the inlet system would continue to flow out through the outlet 29, unless and until the valve plunger 11 is finally actuated to shut off the valve. Quite commonly, however, systems of this type, due to poor setting, or wear, or accumulation of solids, fail to shut off below the overflow level thereby allowing a continuous overflow of a trickle of water down through the pipe 29. This, besides being wasteful of water, makes a continuing annoying sound. The normal householder does not know quite what to do about it, nor does he want to call a plumber to correct the situation. Thus he just continues wasting water. This is another unsatisfactory condition corrected by the float device of the invention.

Turning now to the device or assembly of the invention, it is seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 to consist of two elements for utilization in combination with a ball float. One of such elements is a clamping band, as seen generally in perspective at 50 in FIG. 2, and the other is a block of highly buoyant material, seen generally at 51 in FIG. 3.

The block 51 is formed of one of the suitable foamed plastic materials readily available on the market which are light weight, have cells or pores throughout their structure so that they are highly buoyant and once having set are chemically inert with respect to water so that they retain their buoyancy indefinitely. The Urethanes are one family of materials which is commonly used for this purpose, with what is known as polyurethane foam being a common commodity used to provide insulation and buoyancy. Styrofoam is another common material hearing similar characteristics.

The block 51 in accordance with the invention shown per se in FIG. 3, is shown as being generally a rectangular solid block having a top 52, a bottom 53, sides 54 and 55 and ends 56 and 57. The top is shown as recessed down into the body of the block, as seen at 58 in a form to receive part of the intermediate lower portion of the ball float 17. This recess need not be of any substantial depth, but it is preferable that a suitable recess be provided to assist in positioning and securely aflixin-g the block 51 with respect to the ball float 17. The bottom of the block opposite the recess 58 is preferably channelled upwardly as shown at 59 in a rectangular transverse channel, which channel has a bottom 60 and sides 61 and 62. Communicating channels may also, if desired, be formed in the sides of the block to extend from the channel 59 up the front and back 55 of the block 51, but they are normally not necessary.

Preferably, also, the block 51 is formed with a transverse channel 63 extending down into the block from the upper surface thereof. The channel 63 is formed to matingly receive the portion of the flange 19 of the ball float extending across the lower portion of that float. Accordingly, the channel 63 is transversely and longitudinally curved to correspond to the contour of the flange portion. Also, of course, the flange 63 extends across and down below the surface of the recess 58.

The channel 59, as seen in FIG. 1, snugly receives the bottom 65 of the clamping band 50, shown per se in FIG. 2, such bottom being straight, preferably of a width to extend across the bottom of the bottom 60 of the channel 59 and of a length so that the upstanding legs 66 and 67 of the clamping band 50 lie up against and engage the front and back surfaces 54 and 55 of the block 51. Of course, if the front and back, 54 and 55, are channelled in a continuation of the channel 59 then the legs 66 and 67 of the clamping band would be snugly received within those channels and the length of the bottom 65 would be reduced accordingly.

The upstanding leg 66 of the band 50 commences in a straight portion, then continues up around into an arcuate top 68 formed to embrace the surface of the ball float 17 at either side of the center thereof. From its top the are 68 extends downwardly again to terminate in an outwardly extending flat flange 69. The flange 69 extends laterally outwardly in opposition to a flange 70 extending outwardly at the upper end of the short leg 67 of the clamping band. A screw 71 having a knurled actuating head 72 extends through and is in threaded engagement with aligned holes in the flanges 69 and 70 formed to receive it. A single thread of the cam type can readily be formed about the holes in the flanges 69 and 70 and provides adequate engagement with the threads of the screw 71. This screw should be of suflicient length to enable substantial adjustment of the clamping band with respect to a ball float, for while such ball floats are generally uniform in construction, they are by no means precision members.

The band 51 should be made of suitable non-corrosion material of which aluminum, copper, or hard tough plastic materials are examples.

An important feature of the clamping band is a provision of the slot 73 in the arcuate portion 68 and the aligned short slot 74 near the upper end of the short leg portion 67. These slots, as seen from the FIG. 1 showing, are formed to receive within them a substantial extent of the outwardly extending joining flange 19. When the flange 19 is seated in these slots, the portions of the clamping band at either side of the slot lieagainst the surface of the ball float. This positions the clamping band with respect to the ball float in such a manner that dislodging it once the screw 71 is tightened up, can hardly be done without destroying it. Hence, not only does the slot suggest to the least mechanically minded individual that it is intended to receive the flange 19, but it also acts to position and maintain the clamping band on the ball float. The clamping band in turn acts to retain the buoyant block 51 in desired fixed position against the undersurface of the ball float 17.

Installation of the auxiliary float is very simple. All one has to do is to take the block of buoyant material 51, submerge it in the water in the flush tank, and seat it under the ball float 17. It can only seat properly in one way, i.e., when the lower surface of the ball float seats in the recess, or cavity, 58 of the block and the lower portion of the flange 19 seats in the transverse channel 63. When so seated the block 51 holds itself in place due to its buoyancy, which, in respect to the block found satisfactory in a normal flush tank, has the effect of a twelve ounce force exerted upwardly. Right away the buoyant block 51 raises the ball float 17 and simplifies the application of the band 50. Next the metal band 50 is opened up by freeing up the screw 71, or completely unscrewing it from the flange 70. Then the metal band 50 can readily be slipped over the assembled ball float 17 and block 51. The base 65 of the band is seated in the channel 59 and the upper part of the flange 19 is extended up through the slot 73 between the side portions 68 of the band. Then the screw 71, if not already engaged with the lower flange 70, can be engaged with it and tightened up to secure the two float members firmly together as a unit. On the filling of the flush tank after the float 51 has been secured in place, the plunger 11 will be depressed and the valve will be shut off when the water level reaches a line, such as 75, in the tank rather than the original shut-off line 40. Thus the purpose of the invention is achieved.

Though in the foregoing only one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that such disclosure is presented in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, since those skilled in the art could readily develop modifications of, or

variations in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Speaking more generally, since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Elements adapted for conjoint use for reducing the level of the water in the filled condition of a flush tank by raising the pre-existing level of a shut-off valve ball float which comprise, a block of buoyant material and a band for securing said block to said ball float, means formed on said block for mated engagement with a portion of said ball float, first means formed on said band for engaging said block, second means formed on said band for engaging said ball float and securing means formed on said band for securing said block and said ball float in assembled relationship.

2. Elements as in claim 1, said band being formed with means for interlocking engagement with a portion of said ball float.

3. Elements as in claim 1, said block being formed with a transverse channel extending upwardly into said block across the bottom surface thereof, said band having a bottom portion receivable in said transverse channel, and having side members extending up from said bottom for engagement with the sides of said block.

4. Elements as in claim 1, said ball float being formed with an outwardly extending flange surrounding the same transversely, said block having a portion of the upper surface thereof recessed downwardly for mating reception of the opposed surface of said ball float and portions of the upper surface of said block and said recessed portion being formed with a channel extending downwardly thereinto for the mating reception of said outwardly projecting flange of said ball float.

5. Elements as in claim 1, said band being formed with an upwardly arcuately curved top portion and said top portion being formed with a longitudinal slot therethrough for the reception of said outwardly flange of said ball float.

6. In flush tank construction including a valve to be shut off when the water in the tank reaches a predetermined level, in combination, means for actuating said valve in response to said water level, said level responsive means including a ball float and auxiliary means for rais-.

ing the level of said ball float, said auxiliary means comprising a block of buoyant material, means formed on said block for mating engagement with a portion of the undersurface of said ball float, and means engaging said ball float and said block and retaining the same in assembled relationship.

7. A combination as in claim 6, said means engaging said block and said ball float comprising a band encompassing said block and said ball float and means for tightening said band to clamp said block and said float in said encompassed position.

8. A combination as in claim 6, said retaining means comprising a band of strip material, means formed on said block for matingly receiving one portion of said band and said band being formed with means for matingly receiving a portion of said ball float.

9. A combination as in claim 6, said ball float being formed with an outwardly extending flange surrounding the same and channel means formed in said block for receiving a portion of said flange.

10. A combination as in claim 6, said retaining means being in the form of a band of strip material, said ball float being formed with an outwardly extending flange surrounding the same, said band being formed with a longtiudinal slot therein throughout a portion of the length thereof, and a portion of said flange being seated in said slot.

11. A combination as in claim 6, said retaining means being in the form of a discontinuous band of flat strip material having opposed ends, means engageable with said opposed ends drawing said ends together, said ball float being formed with an outwardly extending flange surrounding the sarne, said band being formed with a longitudinal slot therein, said flange having a portion thereof received in said slot and the portions of said band material bordering said slot being engaged with the surface of said ball float at either side of said flange, said block being formed with a channel for reception of another portion of said flange to positively locate said block with respect to said ball float, a channel formed upwardly into the undersurface of said block and said band having a portion matingly received in said channel in the undersurface of said block for positively assembling said block with respect to said ball float.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 638,740 12/1899 Morrison 441 1,237,276 8/1917 Ballet al 44l 2,642,081 6/1953 Winger 4--41 2,655,665 10/1953 Agnew 441 2,794,191 6/1957 Gaskovitz 114123 3,100,100 8/1963 Carpenter 114-123 3,115,860 12/1963 Payne 114-123 3,198,157 8/1965 Livas 114-123 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. D. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner. 

